Graduates or undergraduates who could use some money for college can try for a $500 scholarship from an Illinois Sheriffs’ group.

Students who are residents of DeKalb County are eligible for an Illinois Sheriffs’ Association scholarship said DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott.

The statewide program started about ten years ago and is “one of the best programs they (the Sheriffs’ Association) have,” said Scott.

Students must be residents of the county they apply in and are “pursuing courses of vocational training or attending institutions of higher learning in Illinois,” Scott said. The scholarships will be awarded based on the student’s “need and application,” he added.

The applications contain an essay form with three different subjects to choose from: students volunteering for community services, the media effect on youth violence, alcohol or drug abuse, or community service as a graduation requirement.

Scott said interested students can get information about the program through the Sheriff’s office or the Administrator of their school. Applications must be received before March 1 and all scholarship winners will be announced by April 15, he added.

The ISA will be awarding 120 scholarships, at least one scholarship for each of Illinois’ 102 counties, Scott said. The number of scholarships for each county is determined by the number of citizens from the county which are members of the ISA, he added.

Judging the applications will be a committee of three people. Two of the committee members will be Tom Weber, DeKalb school administration superintendent, and County Board member Dick Underwood, said Scott.

Last year, the third member was former DeKalb County Clerk Terry Desmond. Desmond’s replacement has not been determined yet, Scott said.

The program is being funded from various sources within the ISA. Most of the scholarship funding comes from the Associate Membership, a community group within the ISA, Scott said.